Gabby and Fred have just become empty nesters and now that they don't have children to look after and hold them together realize they can't stand one another. As the couple navigates divorce options an intriguing young woman befriends Gabby and offers to help her keep her beautiful house going forward through the divorce. Gabby wakes up the next morning with very little recollection of her meeting with the woman. And then the woman begins to call Gabby and things get very weird very quickly. If only Gabby could remember the conversation she had with this woman. What did she agree to? This was a fun domestic thriller that had me listening non stop. It had just enough twists and turn to keep me glued to my ear buds. I listened to the audio version the the narrator was quite good. Recommended. 4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this book.

Gabby has seen her daughter off to college and is now an empty nester. In the days after her daughter leaving for school she has come to realize that she doesn't like her husband much and she doesn't really want to go into this next stage of life with him. When she is out with a friend, she meets Ellis and after too many drinks, she admits to Ellis that she wants her husband dead. The next day, Gabby doesn't recall all of the details from the night before nor can she seem to locate Ellis. As the plot unfolds, Gabby questions just who Ellis is and how she is connected to herself and her husband. This domestic thriller delivers a twist at the end that allowed for the book to have a satisfying end.

Overall, The Younger Woman was a slow burn as far as the mystery went, but the pacing overall seemed balanced. The narration was also very consistent and allowed for a well paced and engaging experience. Overall, I enjoyed this title and would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review it.

This book was pretty good and intense, I wanted it to end differently for some reason. It's funny how this author got me to root for a "bad" person.

I really liked the synopsis of this book so I thought I would really enjoy this read. Unfortunately it was entirely too introspective for me. I feel like most chapters were spent inside the MC’s head/thoughts and not enough action or suspense was occurring.
I think the narrator gave a good performance, but her voice stayed the same the entire time- very dark and monotone with not much variation.

This was a winner. I was hooked from the beginning. I kept guessing along the way and never would have predicted the ending. If you are a fan of thrillers, this is a must read.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I could not put this book down.
This book was absolutely wild and I loved every minute.
The number of twists kept me wanting more! I didn't know what would happen next but it kept me on edge! This was probably one of the most twisted stories I've ever read.
Cate Ray’s atmospheric writing heightens the suspense, as she masterfully weaves tension. The psychological unraveling of the characters makes for an intense and unpredictable read.
The Younger Wife was an exciting story I very much enjoyed.

I was intrigued by this plotline, but unfortunately felt that the twists were too predictable.

I did like the alternating POVs and the flashbacks from an unknown narrator throughout the book.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a woman who is an empty nester. With her kids gone, she realizes that she hates her husband and wants a divorce. When she meets a woman and tells her that she wants her husband dead, things quickly unravel.

I was not a big fan of this one. I liked the narrator and I thought this one started out strong.

However, I did not like a single character in this one. Everyone just stood up for the cheating husband and it was just annoying me. The main character also made stupid decisions and was just annoying.

I also felt like the flashbacks were just not necessary and took away from the story. I just didn’t like those chapters. I think the story just dragged on a bit.

Unfortunately this one was not for me but I hope others love it.

One night at a bar, Gabby meets an enigmatic younger woman named Ellis, and in a haze of drunkenness, she confesses that she wishes Fred dead. Surely she didn’t expect anything to come of it, but when she tries to track Ellis down again, she realizes that Ellis might not have been who she said she was.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” This is the perfect quote for this book.

This book twists and turns and has you guessing. Gabby is someone who has regrets! And as this story unravels, it becomes evident that she has really screwed up in her decisions…or has she been a victim…you need to read this to find out.

I enjoyed the intensity and the questions that come up as this story moves along. It really keeps the reader wondering what is going to happen next.

The narrator, Hannah Curtis, did ok. She tended to get overly excited or emotional in spots. But this was a minor issue.

Need a good guessing game…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Younger Woman by Cate Ray is a gripping domestic thriller that dives deep into secrets, lies, and the unraveling of trust. Gabby and Fred, recently adjusted to life as empty nesters, find themselves at a crossroads in their marriage. Gabby, in a moment of drunken vulnerability, confesses her darkest thoughts to a mysterious younger woman named Ellis—that she wishes her husband, Fred, dead. What Gabby doesn’t expect is for this confession to set off a dangerous series of events.

When Gabby tries to find Ellis again, things take a disturbing turn. Ellis may not be who she claims to be, and as Gabby digs deeper into her husband's past, she begins to suspect that Fred may be hiding more than she ever imagined. The twists and turns in this tale will keep listeners hooked as Gabby’s pursuit of truth spirals into a dangerous game of manipulation and deceit.

The audiobook is expertly narrated, capturing the suspense and tension that builds as Gabby’s life begins to unravel. The pacing is quick, keeping the listener on edge, while the narrator brings Gabby’s inner turmoil and the mounting sense of paranoia to life. The interplay between the characters, especially Gabby and Ellis, adds an extra layer of intrigue, as Gabby tries to determine who she can trust—and what she’s willing to risk to uncover the truth.

The Younger Woman is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that delivers plenty of twists and a shocking climax. If you love stories that keep you guessing and full of dark secrets, this audiobook will not disappoint.

Interesting thriller, a bit predictable but not bad. Great narration of the audiobook. Heavy women's empowerment message.

Gabby and Fred drop their youngest child off to university and begin life as empty nesters. Gabby realizes that there has been something off about her marriage for a while and realizes that she cannot stand Fred. She goes to hang out with her best friend at a restaurant, and late in the evening after many cocktails, Gabby meets Ellis. She drunkenly tells Ellis that she wishes her husband was dead. Days later, she can't find Ellis, but also discovers Fred is cheating on her. Other mysterious things begin to happen.

I did pretty much figure out where this was going fairly early, so that was a bit disappointing. I didn't really like any of the characters, and thought they were all acting very strangely. The narrative covers Gabby's life growing up which I found kind of boring (the mind of kids isn't all that exciting to read for me in this type of book) however it's necessary to set everything up.

It's definitely a slow burn, but the audiobook narrator Hannah Curtis does a fantastic job keeping things moving forward. I might have given up reading had it not been for her. There's also a decent message about empowering yourself as a woman to do what you know is right and realizing that the men in your life don't control your choices.

Overall, it was a decent read but nothing overly spectacular.

This book strung me in right away, I couldn't stop. What a great read! You really learn to love the main characters story.

The Younger Woman, by Cate Ray, narrated by Hannah Curtis, is a fabulous psychological thriller/domestic suspense audiobook. Empty nesters Gabby & Fred are still legally married but emotionally distant from each other. Enter Ellis, a seductive young woman with mysterious motivations. A very twisty ride. Highly recommend!!

The Younger Woman was definitely a solid thriller. When Gabby, a recent empty nester, realizes she’s ready to leave her cheating husband, she makes the mistake of admitting this to a stranger after one too many drinks. This woman is young, beautiful, and she’s also the one her husband is seeing. Next thing you know is a cat and mouse game between Gabby and Ellis. Ellis has an agenda of her own, and although I guessed what her secrets were, it was still pretty surprising by the end. It wasn’t the best thriller, but it did keep me interested throughout! I really enjoyed the narrator as well.

Ah, who among us hasn't had a drunken rambling conversation at a bar after an emotional event. Most people don't try to get their husbands killed though. But Gabby does.
Or does she? She can't hardly remember anything that happened, but she sets in motion some big wheels that cannot easily be stopped.
With the dual timelines, readers are able to see what happened to Gabby in the past and put together what it means now. Gabby herself, however, is unaware of what is coming. It culminates in some big events that change everything.
Oddly empowering for a thriller, I loved that part.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cate Ray, and Harlequin Audio for my advance copy of this audiobook.

3..5/5 stars—The Younger Woman is a slow-burn, domestic thriller. I went into it thinking it would be about a conniving younger woman breaking up a marriage, but it was more of a family drama across generations. There weren't many twists and turns until the end, but it held my attention enough to keep reading. I also enjoyed the audiobook narration! Read if you enjoy:

-Generational stories
- First and third person POVs
-Domestic thrillers
-Books about marital problems

Gabby and Fred are empty nesters after their youngest goes off to college and Gabby admits to herself (and a couple others listening) that she doesn’t like her husband. It’s an “ok” book. Of course the husband is cheating and then comes along a younger gal making things even more complicated. Lots of backstories on characters that didn’t quite make it all that interesting for me.

4.5 Stars – Twisty and Addictive!

This was such a fun, twisty domestic thriller! While I’m not in the empty nest stage yet, I could absolutely empathize with Gabby—her restlessness, her frustration, and that moment of impulsivity that sets everything in motion. Cate Ray does a fantastic job of building tension, keeping me second-guessing everyone’s motives, and weaving in just the right amount of psychological suspense. Ellis is an enigma, Fred has his own secrets, and as Gabby digs deeper, the stakes rise in unexpected ways. This was my first book by Cate Ray, but it definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you, NetGalley & Harlequin Audio, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

To start, a not so friendly PSA that if the man cheats it is not the woman’s fault!! Yikes on the bikes the men in this book loved to blame the wrong person! Anyway, I loved this until about 80% of the way and then everything went to shit. Character growth came to a deafening halt and I got more and more frustrated. Ugh, so much potential wasted and for what? What was the message? I guess I’ll never know…

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC!! The narration was fantastic. The story possibly would have been more enjoyable if it was less than half the length.